Page 29 of Taking What Was His

“We have an area just for that. We use a hose hooked up to warm water for them.”

He chuckled. “I’d like to see that.”

“You can come some time.”

Roman backed up when the horse started to get impatient.

“Mike, I’m ready.”

Mike got next to the horse, facing her, and then cupped his hands in front of her. She put her left foot in it, and then he lifted her onto the back of the huge animal. She adjusted herself and put her feet in the proper position in the stirrups. The whole time the horse was moving.

“I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“I’ll wait with him,” Mike told her.

She smiled and started walking away.

Mike turned the other way. “The barn is this way.”

“Where is she going?”

“The track. She’ll run him around a few times to get some of the energy out of him. He’ll be easier to work with in the ring.”

“Can we watch that?”

“Sure.” Mike turned, and they walked between two buildings to a chest-high fence. Inside the fence was the large oval racetrack.

Mike pointed. “She’ll come in there. It’s awesome to see.”

Roman swallowed. He hoped he didn’t freak to see her in danger. He had to remind himself she knew what she was doing.

“By the way, I know we met last night, but my name is Roman.” He held out a hand.

“I’m Mike. I’m one of the ranch hands around here.”

“I don’t have to ask if you enjoy it.”

Mike grinned. “It’s my life. I’m taking Horse Husbandry and Farm Management in college. I want to become a manager of a ranch someday.” Mike pointed to a gate, a football field length away. “There she is.”

Roman made out the horse and a small person on its back. Jesus. She looked so tiny.

Mike smiled when he saw the expression on Roman’s face. “It’s okay, man. She knows what she’s doing.”

“It’s hard to watch this first time.”

“I bet. It will get easier.”

The horse that Beth rode kept acting up. He’d rear or do a side-step. He watched her control the animal like it was nothing.

They finally got to the track itself. She made the animal walk a bit, even though Roman could tell she was holding it back and it wanted to run.

All of a sudden, the horse lunged and took off.

Roman’s stomach dropped as he watched them run full out.

Mike whooped as they came around. She sat low over the horse’s neck and kept going.

She did that three times, and then the fourth she trotted the horse partway around and then walked him. Another horse came up beside them, and the two talked while the horses walked the last bit.